Cyclin D1 protein and CCND1 gene expression in colorectal cancer

Aims To report the expression of cyclin D1 protein and its gene in a series of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Methods One hundred and eleven specimens of colorectal carcinomas and adjacent normal colorectal mucosa were investigated by staining with a monoclonal antibody against cyclin D1 and by RT-PCR. Results Expression of CCND1 gene was found in 54 out of 111 cases of colorectal cancers, while in normal mucosa the expression of this gene was not observed. Cyclin D1 protein expression was checked in the same group of adenocarcinoma cases. Presence of this protein was observed in 69 cases and for 43 of them also expression of its gene was found. Dependence between the presence of protein and the gene expression was statistically significant (p=0.0002). In the group of cases where CCND1 gene expression was detected, high level of its protein expression was found in 20 cases. The CCND1 gene expression was associated with metastases to lymph nodes (p=0.0181) and also with distant metastasis (p=0.0204). Conclusions The combined measurement of both the gene and its protein product, is an important contribution to the study of molecular markers in histological material.